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Family
Lines Newsletter, July 18, 2010
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**Bulgaria: A
Little History**
By Cyndi
Glidewell
Bulgaria is a
small nation about the size of Tennessee. It has a long history which
includes being occupied by the Muslim Ottomans, liberated by the Russians, and
ruled by the Bulgarian Communist Party. In 1994, Bulgaria seized its
freedom and has been ruled as a parliamentary republic. Freedom of
religion came with the new executive power and Bulgaria today states its
population is 83% Bulgarian Orthodox Christians, 12% Muslims, and less than 1 %
each Roman Catholic or Protestant Christians. Bulgaria’s newfound freedom
brought with it a severe economic collapse which created pockets of Bulgarian
refugees spread across the Balkan areas of Europe. One of those
pockets was in Athens, Greece. Our Church of Christ brother, Christo, was
asked to start a Bulgarian Church of Christ in Athens for these economic
refugees. He and his wife Vania did. Their church grew in size and
strength as did the Bulgarian economy. In 2007, Bulgaria joined the
European Union (EU) and their economy began to stabilize. The Bulgarian
refugees that had settled in Athens began to return to Bulgaria, as did Christo
and Vania. Our brother Christo has been working on reestablishing the
congregation in Sofia since their return. Currently, the congregation is
comprised mainly of members from the original Athens church. His desire is
to grow this congregation and to reach out to other Bulgarians with the word of
Christ.
We found Christo
to be very discouraged by his struggle to grow his congregation. The
Bulgarian people seem to have become somewhat apathetic to organized religion as
they continue to struggle economically. Apathetic as they may seem, they
are a people searching for something. They strongly desire something to
fill their hearts and minds with hope. And what greater hope is there than
our Lord Jesus Christ? Christo’s heavy heart seemed to lift after only
about three days of being surrounded by our team of passionate teens and young
adults. He experienced the newness of watching and interacting with teens
as they demonstrated their love of Christ and the church to other young
Bulgarians through play, interaction and song. Our team experienced the
peace and grace that comes from encouraging struggling church leaders and
reinvigorating them through fellowship.
Our efforts in
Bulgaria touched the hearts and minds of many on multiple levels. Our
interactions with the young families found them hungry for the wisdom of the
church teachings in regard to raising their children. The young women were
yearning for classes and ideas on how to engage the younger population. We
found the older Bulgarians stagnant and worn out yet easily reinvigorated by the
energy of our young people. We found a population of teens and university
students so intrigued by what our youth offered through their words and deeds
that they returned day after day for more interaction. They later joined
us for our devotionals and church service. We found much and left
more.
Greater things are
yet to be done.
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**Order of
Worship**
Worship Leader --
Brent Evans
#63 -- I
Will Call Upon the Lord (vs. 1 & 2)
Welcome
#167 -- Hosanna
(vs. 1 & 2)
Hosanna, You’re My
King
What the Lord Has
Done In Me (vs. 1, 2 & 3)
#176 -- I Am
God (vs. 1 & 2)
Table of the
Lord
Offering
#555 -- Seek Ye
First (vs. 1, 2 & 3)
Coins for
Christ
Children’s Worship
#290- Shine, Jesus
Shine (vs. 1 & 2)
Message -- Chris
Benjamin
Song for
Responses
#123 -- The
Steadfast Love of the Lord
Shepherd’s Prayer
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Page 2
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**In Our Thoughts
& Prayers**
• Albert Nichols,
brother-in-law of Betty Summers, has lung cancer and is in St. Edward Hospital,
room 3203.
• Ellie Nichols,
sister of Betty Summers, is also in St. Edward Hospital. She fell and hit
her head while visiting her husband Albert on July 13. She is in
ICU.
• Clayton Amos is
in Sparks Hospital, room 599.
• Denna Rogers,
mother of Sharon Faries, is recuperating from her 4th episode of shingles.
• Jim Neugent,
Melissa Walker’s father, is having a slow recovery following an arterial stint
procedure.
• Joy Benjamin,
mother of Chris, is home but still experiencing some pain following gallbladder
surgery on July 10.
• Mark Wilson is
home after receiving IV antibiotics this week.
• Ron Haines, son
of Lerene and brother to Lance, had pacemaker surgery July 14 at Sparks
Hospital.
• Ruth Davis,
sister of Toka Beall, is having bladder surgery July 16 at Sparks
Hospital.
• Sharon Faries
had a procedure on July 12 to correct a partially detached
retina.
**Continued
Prayers**
Agnes
Beard
Allen
Mobley
Betty
Williams
Caidan
Dockery
Dianna
Greenhaw
Eddie
Harrell
Grace
Peters
Harold
Gouty
Inez
Hatfield
John
Gardenhire
Karen
Tygart
Lela
Neal
Liz
Parks
Marlin
Edens
Margaret
Stone
Mary Frances
Jackson
Nettie
Rupe
Phillip
White
Richard
Broyles
Rusty
Howard
Steve
Dunavin
Wilma
Son
**Welcome, New
Members!**
Jonathan &
Stephanie Fry
Jackson (age 7
months)
7905 Bridgewood
Lane
Fort Smith, AR
72916
479.957.7192
(Jonathan)
479.263.2342
(Stephanie)
Stephanie was
baptized Sunday morning! (7/11/10)
Logan
McLain
3516 South N
Street, Apt. C
Fort Smith, AR
72903
501.278.9184
Thank you Logan
for leading us in songs last Sunday morning!
**Dates to
Remember!**
• JOY Bunch
Potluck, July 17, 6 PM in the FLC
• 50th Anniversary
Reception for Ralph and Sally Smith, July 18, 2 - 4 PM in the
FLC
• Faith Fusion,
August 7 (all day)
• Back to School
Blessing, August 22
• School Supplies
Collection for Homeless Children (culminating on August
22)
**On the Bulletin
Board**
• Thank you note
from Sharon Faries
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**Ice Cream
Supper**
Sunday, July 18, 6
PM
Home of Jerry
& Meg Canfield
2 Chestnut Court,
Fort Smith
Devotional at 6:00
PM followed by Ice Cream Supper.
Hot Dogs will be
provided. Please bring homemade ice cream, desserts, chips, drinks, lawnchairs
or blankets.
Communion will be
served at the Canfield home and at the church building at 6:00
PM.
Directions to the
Canfield Home:
From West-Ark
church parking lot, turn left onto Waldron Rd.
Turn left at
stoplight onto Park Avenue.
Turn left onto
66th Street; then make an immediate right into Chestnut
Ct.
**YTD Budget vs.
Actual as of 6/30/10**
Budgeted
Contributions, $702,000
Actual YTD
Contributions, $735,538
Actual Expenses,
$702,478
**King’s Kids
Calendar**
Silly Olympics,
Sunday, July 25
(For 3 year olds
through those going into 1st grade AND FAMILIES)
Don’t miss out on
this fun, family event!
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4
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**Youth Group
News**
Colorado
Mission Trip Preparation Meeting - Sunday, July 18
If you are going
on our mission trip to Colorado July 24-31 you need to be at this meeting at 5
p.m. in the Youth Room!
Ice Cream
Supper/Going Away for Anthony & Jackie Sofio - Sunday, July
18
We’ll join the
church at the Canfield’s at 6 PM for this event and to say our goodbyes to our
dear friends, Anthony & Jackie! We will not be taking the church vans
to this event.
Girls Pool
Party & Sleepover - July 19 - 20
Come take a swim,
enjoy pizza and snacks, and then stay for a sleepover with fun, games,
spa-stuff, and more! Meet at the Hankins’ house at 5:30 p.m. for the pool party.
After swimming, the Junior High will spend the night at the Hankins’ house and
the High School will go over to Savannah Rust’s house in Poteau. Pick up a flyer
for more details!
Man Camp -
Monday, July 19 - Tuesday, July 20
Join the guys as
they spend the night out at the Mackey’s place, doing man things & talking
about Jesus. Vans leave at 4 p.m. on Monday & return at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Pick up a flyer for more details!
WAYG Chicks
T-shirts – July 21
We are taking
orders for a COOL new shirt, promoting the Girls side of our Youth & Family
Ministry. Cost is $15 and due on July 21. Order forms can be found
in the hanging files next to the Youth Group bulletin board in the
foyer.
Service Camp -
Thursday, July 22
We will be serving
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring $5 for lunch. *Drivers
Needed!!
Colorado
Mission Trip – July 24-31
Our group of
nearly 60 adults and students will leave at 8 AM sharp. We anticipate returning
the following Sat. @ 9 PM.
Youth Event –
Sunday, August 1
Our SLAM Team
(Student Leadership Action Ministry) is putting together another great
event. Stay tuned for details!
WAYG Youth
Group T-shirts – July 21
We are taking
orders for a new Youth Group t-shirt. Cost is $15 and due on August
4. Order forms can be found in the hanging files next to the Youth Group
bulletin board in the foyer.
Faith Fusion –
Saturday, August 7
Mark your
calendars to be available to help with this amazing, one day event, led by
West-Ark’s Children’s Ministry!
Intern
Farewell/Cookout – Sunday, August 8
Look for more
information about saying a sad “farewell” to our fantastic summer Interns.
Event will take place from 6-9 PM.
JumpStart –
August 27-29
Applications are
out for this fantastic Youth Conference in Neosho, MO. Patrick Mead will be one
of the speakers. New Reign and Watershed Worship will also be
performing. Applications are due August 8. Cost is
$40.
**Happy Birthday
To...**
July
11
Seth
Kleman
Rachel
Robins
July
14
Jennifer
Dotson
Ruby
Nichols
July
15
Hadleigh
Scott
July
17
Tommy
Bishop
July
18
Jack
Alexander
Sherria
Burk
July
19
Scott
James
July
21
Karen
Farris
Mary
Luna
July
22
Coleen
Frost
Brynn
Walker
July
23
Kim
Bice
Maile
McDonald
Oscar
Nolasco
Ian
Smith
**Nursery
Helpers**
Morning
Flora
Johnson
Betty
Callicott
Linda
Wilson
Amanda
Basham
Evening
Sheila
Vaught
**Attendance and
Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes...………....329
Sunday AM
Attendance..649
Sunday PM
Attendance..118
Wednesday
Classes…...193
Contribution………..$19,658
Children’s
Homes……..$455
Coins For
Christ.............$70
Lao
Worship
Attendance…………….....32
Contribution……………$202
Iglesia de
Cristo
Attendance………………..69
Contribution……………$263
Office Phone (479)
452-1240
Fax (479)
452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westark.org
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"Making disciples
for Jesus who are eager to serve others."
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